Sir, – As the country faces a crisis in animal food supply, I would like to draw attention to an ancient type of food used in the past to feed livestock. The humble furze bush or whin was collected and ground down to shreds. This was done by use of a hand-wound machine known as a mangle grinder. There was, to my knowledge, also a similar machine with a finer mechanism. The theory was that the product was very suitable for horses.
It grows and prospers on any type of soil, bog or ditch and will weather any climate that comes our way.
Think of our cutaway bogs lying dormant and being eyed by speculators. This much-maligned bush could carpet the areas which are, at present, non-productive and, being an early bloomer, would be a saviour for our bee population, helping it to return to strength.
Sometimes they are blind who do not wish to see. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT CARBERRY,
Straffan, Co Kildare.